Celebrating the All-Nighter's - "Night Shift"

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It seems like it’s all-nighter time for a few of us, so it’s also time for another song about the night. It’s a series anyone who’s up all night can feel free to join in! Tonight’s offering is pretty grim territory: “Night Shift” by Siouxsie and the Banshees, from their 1981 album, Juju. A psychological thriller tune, “Night Shift” uses British serial killer Peter Sutcliffe as subject matter. Nicknamed “The Yorkshire Ripper,” Peter Sutcliffe killed 13 women and girls between 1975 and 1980. He attempted to kill 7 others. Sutcliffe started his spree in neighborhoods, eventually moving on the red light districts and killing prostitutes. Oddly, the police interviewed Sutcliffe nine times during their five-year investigation, but never arrested him. He was finally arrested when he was pulled over for driving with falsified plates. During that interview, he finally admitted his crimes. The handling of the case brought sweeping investigative changes across British law enforcement. Sutcliffe died in prison, of COVID-19, in 2020. “Night Shift” might be the darkest song Siouxsie and the Banshees ever recorded. Many of their songs were written about real-life people, so while using Sutcliffe isn’t exactly surprising, it’s just so haunting, with a feel that invokes a serial killer atmosphere. And as is the case with a skilled songwriter, Siouxsie at times is warning the women that Sutcliffe is coming for them, other times she is Sutcliffe. I’ve seen them perform “Night Shift” twice, and it was a highlight of both shows. Welcome to the overnight club, folks! Link is to a live performance filmed at London’s Royal Albert Hall, recorded for their live album, Nocturne. Robert Smith of The Cure was the guitarist on this tour: